Wednesdays, July 15, 22, 29 August 5, 12, 19
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to Hindu traditions, emphasizing the roles of ritual, knowledge, and devotion from classical to contemporary times. It begins with Hinduism’s South Asian roots in the Vedic tradition, which provides key religious and conceptual foundations. Early and classical expressions of Hindu thought are explored through the concept of dharma. Major Hindu deities are introduced along with their narratives, practices, and iconography. The course also surveys the six major schools of Hindu philosophy and examines the tradition of bhakti (devotion). Finally, attention turns to sacred spaces such as temples and tirthas, and the connections between divine presence and pilgrimage.

Eileen Goddard is a PhD candidate in Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and lectures on Indian and Asian religious traditions at UCSB and the University of Houston.